Last week I purchased my first BlackBerry phone. It is the new 8100 aka Pearl. With the phone I also got the T-mobile BlackBerry Unlimited Access. I managed to go online with the browser, download a few extra stuff such as Opera Mini, Google Maps, VNC Viewer, themes, tunes, and images.

I also changed the TCP settings and added wap.voicestream.com. So now I can use Google Maps and Opera Mini. However, I can't seem to get the Mobile VNC Viewer to connect to my Linux Desktop which is running VNC Server at port 5900. I even tried to connect using Ikomorro Mobile Desktop but it doesn't seem to even connect. Is there something else I need to do or is it a blocked service/port through my T-mobile service?

By the way, there may be some typos as I'm typing this on my handheld.

That is the correct APN for T-Mobile as far as I know and normally nothing is blocked on the T-Mobile end when connecting through it.

I beleive that many Linux VNC servers run on slightly different ports (often 5901-5905) depending on the exact screen (or screen resolution) you are trying to connect to. Can you connect to your server on port 5900 using a desktop VNC client?

Can you tell me what errors you are encountering when trying to connect with Mobile Desktop?

Can you connect with VNC to mdtest.idokorro.com using Mobile Desktop? If you are prompted for a password then the connection was successful and it means that the problem is either at your server end rather than at your BlackBerry or with the IP Address or port that you are using to try and connect with.

If you need additional assistance you can contact Idokorro support directly at and we will be happy to assist you.

Idokorro Mobile Desktop allows you to connect a VNC server in three different ways on a BlackBerry:
- Through the Mobile Data Service on a BES
- Through a direct TCP/IP connection (provided the handheld supports it)
- Through the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS)

Only the first method will cause traffic on the BES.

When connecting through a BES, the BES acts as a VPN which allows you to connect to your internal servers without having to open any holes in your firewall. With the other two connection methods you do need to make the VNC server on the computer accessible from the internet in order to reach it.

In either case you will need to register for a trial before you are able to use it. This can be done directly from within Mobile Desktop once it is installed or at that second URL above.

If your BlackBerry is on a BES then Mobile Desktop will detect this and automatically choose that as the default connection method. Since you do not want the traffic to go through your BES you should probably select Options from the menu in Mobile Desktop and change the connection method before you try to connect the first time.

I got my problem resolved. I can now control my desktop from anywhere with either Idokorro Mobile Desktop or VNCJ2ME.

The problem wasn't with the VNC Server, or the settings on my phone. It was SELinux. For those who aren't familiar with Linux, SELinux sets the security policy on the OS. So, even though I had Web, FTP, VNC and other servers up and running, no other computer (or cell phones in this matter) couldn't connect.